Machine for picking and separating hops



(No Model.) 2 Sheets- Shet 1,

P. LEONARD. MA'GHINE FOR PIGKING AND SEPARATNG'HOPS.

No. 356.323. PatentedJan. 18, 1887.

2 shum-sheet 2.

(No Model.)

- F. LEONARD.

MAGHINB FOR PICKING AND SEPARATING HOPS.

Patented. Jan. 18, 1887.

.z'nesses:

ihsrreo %reres ATENT Gretes FRANKLIN LEONARD, OF BRIDGEW'ATER, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN P. BATCHELDER, OF SCI-IENEOTADY, NEXV YORK. I

WACHNE FOR PEGKING AND SEPARATENG HOPS.

S'i-"E CIFICATION form-mg part of Letters Patent Ne, 35 5,323, dated January 18, 1837.

Application filed February 24, 1886. Serial No. 192903. (Ne model.)

To aZZ whom it may coceri:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN LEONARD, of Bridgewater, in the country of Oueida and State ofNew York, have inventeda certain new and 'improved Machine for Picking and Separating Hops l'ro m the Vi nes 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and complete description thereof.

The Construction of the'above-nientioned o machine for the purpose specified and the operations of the same are substantially as set forth in the following specification and shown in the annexed drawings, making part thereof, and in which Figure 1 isa vertical transverse section ot' the machine. Fig. 2 is a transverse section, detached from Fig. l to show the same parts in a different position. Fig. 3 isa transverse section of the same parts as Fig. 2 in another relation to each other. Fig. 4 is an end View of the gear-ing of the roller-s. Fig. 5 is a side view of the ge'rings ofFig'. 4. Fig. 6 is a perspective ot' the clamp.' Fig. 7 is an end view of the conb. Fig. S isa side View ofthe conb,

and Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the inaehine.

A A are two standards securely fastenedto a base, A. I

B is a shalt journaled in the upper part of the standards A A'.

C is the stock ot' the comb, having at each end projections or arms e c. The stock C is supported by the eonuecting-rods N N, pivotally attached to its projecting euds c' e'.

c c", &c., are the teeth which are inserted in the stock C. i

D is a round rod, secured at each end in the standards A A'. v

E is an apron,consisthig of aseries ofwires, 40 6 e, &c., Secured at their outer ends to the rod D, while theinnerends thereotareinserted loosely in a groove, a in the side of the lower or fixedjaw, S, of a clamping device,hereinafter described.

On the shalt B, at each end, is an eccentrically-'uounted pulley, B', one ofwhich is shown in Fig. 9, the other being iudicated by dotted lines B' in Fig. 1. These pulleys B' are connected to the stock G of the comb by the bar N and its eoncentric strap a. The ende ofthe comb-stock G pass through the slots b b" formed in the sides of the standards A A'. Said slots are ol" snfticient size to pernit the vertical reciprocating movement inparted to the conh by the connecting-bars N as the shaft B is revolved.

Ou the shaft B, at each end, inside of the standards A A'arc cams G G, and heneath each cam is a bar, H, working in proper' guides, h. The.,lower end of each bar H is connected to the npper or movable jaw, S, of the clamping device, hcreinbefore rel'erred to, by spring-rod h', to give elasticity to saidjaw and act in conjuuction with the springs s hereinafter described. Also, on shaft B, at one end and outside of the pulle B', is a cam,

J, and a cranlelrandle, O, the latter for turning shat't B.

K ,is a lever, pivoted on a gudgeon, k, attached to the side of the standard A. The lower end of lever K has pivoted to it a pulling-pawl, L, which works over the ratchetwheel M, attached'to the outwardly-extended arm m ot' the lower roller, w. The upper end of lever K hears against and is operated upon by the cani J whereby an internittent motion isgiven to the ratchetwheel M, and consequently to the roller w.

The clamping devioe consists of an upper or novable jaw, S, and a lower or fixed jaw, S'. The jaw S is rectangular, while the lower jaw,

S also rectangular, has on the side next to the roller w a space hollowed out concentric With said roller, whereby said roller is permitted to retain its relative position, while the upper face of said jaw is extended nearly to the bite of the rollers, and forms a platform for the support of the vines to that point. The ends of the jaw S are provided with -tenons U, which extend through and work in the openings u iu the sides of the standards A A'. The jaw S' is fixed to said standards bythe tenons U'. -The jaw S is supported in position by the springs s, attached to the ends thereof and to the sides of the standards at s', as seenin Fig. 5 9. Said springs also serve, in eonjunction With springs h', to lift said jaw into its normal position when the pressure thereon by the action of the cams G is removed.

The rollers XV and w are fluted, as shown in [OO Figs. 4: and 5, and are journaled in the standards'A A', immediately adjacent to the clampingdeviee, as shown .in Figs. land 3. On their ends are the cogged whccls Q, working into each other.

o v are elastic blocl s, ofindia rubber or similar material, placed over the bearings R of the upper roller, \V, which serve by their elasticity to keep the upper roller in contact with the lower one, and yet pcrnit their separation according to the varying size of the inaterial as it passes between them. A series of wires, b', are attached to the bar b, the loose ends ofwhich project to the side of the upper or novablejaw, S, of the clamping device and between the teeth c of the com b.

In Figs. 2 and 3 will be seen the different positions ot' the teeth of the comb and the novable jaw with reference to the series of wires b' and the fixed jaw t 't are fixed wires in the standards A A', for the purpose of arresting the dowuward movement ot' the outer ends of the arms c c of the conbstock G, while the stock itself continues to descend, th us causing the conb to be tilted, as seen in Fig. 2, and thereby carrying the teeth c further into the series of wires b', and their ends downward and outward between the wires of the apron E. The sttops I, located on the standards A A' above the conb-stock G, arrest the npward movement of the arms c and cause the conb, with the teeth c, to return from the tilted position in Fig. 2 to that shown in Figs. l and 3. p

F is the recept :cle for the hops, and is placed imnediatel y under the apron E,through which the hops drop after they are separated from the vines.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The hop-vines are fed over the aprou E while thejaw S is raised and the rollers \V 10 are in motion. The' teeth of the conb are at the same time above the apron, so that the ends of the vines will pass under them to thejaws and rollers, when, during the intermittence of the movement ot' the rollers. the 'aws will close and hold the vines. This lamping of the jaws is in'irnediately followed by the downward and latcral movement of the comb and teeth, as seen in Fig. 2, the teeth passing through the vines directly in front of the hopsand between the wires ot' the apron E. By observing the figures it will be seen that the movements of the clanp and conb are efi'ected by the canis G, the eccentrically-nounted pulleys B', and their respective attachments H. and N. \Vhen the conb has desccnded so far as to pass the ends of the teeth c through the vines and the apron E, the arms c c ot' the conb inpinge upon the wires; t, which causes their stoppage, and as the stock O continues its down wa rd movementthe teeth c are th rown quickly back in the direction ot' the arrow, whereby the hops are stripped from the vines, which are firmly held between the jaws S S', and the hops, f'eed therefron, fall into the receptacle F below. About this time the pulleys B' have revolved and lifted the conb, with its teeth, from the apron and stripped vines. The cams G change position and allow the resilience of the springs s and h' to open the jaws, when the movement of the rollers XV w again draws the vinesjust far enough to bring a fresh suppl y of the hops in front of the clamping device ready for the next action of the conb and teeth, as above described. The free ends of the wires in the apron E, which are made of steel, are loosel y inserted in the groove a' of the lower jaw, S so that they are only free to move laterally as nccessity nay require. The teeth c of the conb are also made of steel, and of such length as readily to spring sidewise and allow for the varying thickness of the vines. The wires I/ are 'for detaching froni the teeth c" of the conb any foreign substance that may adhere to theni.

Having described the several parts ot' the machine and its operation, what I claim, and desi re to secure by Letters Patent o t' the United States. is

1. The combination, with the standards A A', of the shaft B, the conb C, connectingrods N, eccentrically nounted pulleys B', the stops I, and wire steps t i', subshntially as set forth.

2. The combinatiou of the conb C, the clampingjaws, the mechanisn for actnating said conb, and the novablejaw and the ap ron E, snl'stantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination, with the standards A A', of the .sh-aft B, cans G, bars Il, springs 717, novable jaw S, and springs s s.

4. The combinatio' of the conb, consisting of the stock C, arms cc, and teeth c, the merhanism for actuating said conb, the bar I), and the wires 'b', attached to said bar, as and for the purpose described.

5. The conbination, with the conb C, pro vided with the teeth c" and the .nechanisn for actuating said conb, ot' the fixed jaw provided with a groove, (t', and the apron E, conposed of the bar D and wires c, fixed at one end in said bar, the other ends being inserted loosely in said groove, as set fol-th.

6. The cornhination ot' the conb. the jaws S S', 'ollers \V w, the mechanisn for operating said conb, niovablc jaw and rolles, and the apron E, as set forth.

7. The combination, with the standards A A' and the shaft B of the cam J, the levcr K, the pawl L, the ratchet-wheel M, and the rollers W and w, snbstantially as described.

S. In a machine for picking and separating hops, a conb consisting of the stock (i, projecting arms c c, and teeth c", in conhination with the operative meehanisni and the stops I, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereofI affix niy sig'ature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANKLTN LEONARD.

\Vitnesses:

OLIN S. LUFFMAN, MICHAEL FoLEY.

IOO

TKO 

